The Portugal national team successfully advanced to the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup after defeating Croatia with a narrow 2-1 score at BMO Field, Toronto, on Friday (3/7/2026). Behind that dramatic victory was the crucial role of ball sensor technology, which helped the referee make a critical decision in stoppage time.
Tensions reached a peak when Croatia almost equalized through Josko Gvardiol. However, the goal was disallowed after referee Espen Eskas reviewed it via the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. This decision triggered strong protests from Croatian players, who felt there was no offside position violation during the buildup to the goal.
During the VAR review, match officials utilized data from 'Connected Ball Technology'. An Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensor embedded inside the Adidas Trionda ball is capable of recording data up to 500 times per second. This technology detected an extremely faint touch vibration from Croatian player Igor Matanovic before the ball reached Mario Pasalic. Based on this accurate data, Pasalic was declared offside, officially disallowing Gvardiol's goal.
Developed through a collaboration between FIFA and Adidas, this technology is designed to provide high transparency and accuracy in monitoring ball dynamics, from the point of contact and speed to its trajectory in three-dimensional space. The successful implementation of this technology at the 2026 World Cup serves as clear proof of how the integration of science and sports can maintain fairness in professional football matches.
